Quality Engineer Interview Question: Difference Between Quality Assurance and Quality Control in Manufacturing Processes

Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) are crucial components of ensuring product quality in manufacturing processes:

Quality Assurance (QA)

Quality Assurance focuses on preventing defects in the manufacturing process by implementing processes and procedures to ensure that the products meet quality standards. QA is proactive and aims to identify and eliminate potential issues before they occur.

Quality Control (QC)

Quality Control, on the other hand, is the process of inspecting and testing the products to identify defects and deviations from the quality standards. QC is reactive and aims to identify and rectify issues after they have occurred.

In summary, Quality Assurance is about preventing defects, while Quality Control is about identifying and fixing defects. Both QA and QC are essential for maintaining product quality and ensuring customer satisfaction in manufacturing processes.